30-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Now 30 semi-State chiefs in line for huge pay top-ups after controversy over €430,000 for Housing Tsar
Social Democrats stand-in leader Cian O'Callaghan said there was a double standard within Government in comparison with the treatment of lower-paid workers.
Everyone from the head of Horse Racing Ireland to RTÉ will see salaries soar, Mr O'Callaghan said, "despite the fact that these CEOs received a combined €75m euro in pay in perks over ten years according to one assessment.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers yesterday published the Review of Remuneration of Chief Executive Officers in Commercial State Bodies.
The report found that CEO remuneration packages have 'fallen out of alignment with the market', according to a statement from Mr Chambers' office.
He said: 'A banded salary structure will be implemented for CEOs ranging from their current salary to the market median of the relevant band.
'In line with the SPRC findings in relation to increased flexibility for Boards, the Boards will propose a point on the banded salary structure ranging from the current fixed point salary to the relevant market median.
'Salary proposals or any changes will be subject to governance and scrutiny with approval required by the relevant Minister, and with my consent. There will be no backdating of any changes to pay.
'I will be writing to my colleagues regarding the operational details of this in the coming weeks.'
But Mr O'Callaghan today claimed the Govenrment was boosting the pay of semi-state chiefs without any references at all to "economic headwinds, tariffs or global volatility when it comes to gold plated salaries'.
"For those the top, iIt seems these are concerns that are not worth mentioning. Compare that with how people in low-pay are treated, and the Government's shameful decision to postpone the introduction of a living wage."
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An improvement in sick leave for ordinary workers has also been put on the chopping block, he said, "and in a triple-whammy, plans to introduce pension auto-enrolment have also been kicked down the road yet again."
People are struggling to make ends meet, to keep their homes heated, their rent paid and the bills from piling up, he said.
Yet the Government has mounted a "despicable attack on low-paid workers, people should be able to live a full and dignified life and not just scrape by day to day."
Prices for goods and services are 42pc higher in Ireland than in other European countries, while there had been a huge increase in inflation since Russia invaded Ukraine, he added.
"The cost of living is skyrocketing, and you expect people to get by on €13.50 an hour," he told Micheál Martin.
"Why does this Government believe that those at the top deserve bumper salary increases while low paid workers are thrown under the bus?"
Mr Martin avoided addressing the pay increases for semi-state bosses, instead emphasising Government progress on statutory sick pay and the minimum wage.
The 2022 Sick Leave Act had increased the entitlement from three to five days, he said, while acknowledging that a further proposed increase to seven days had been paused.
He said the Government had steadily increased the minimum wage, while a short postponement on auto-enrolment was "hardly trampling on someone's rights."
